Consequences for Copying DVDs

What exactly is the consequences for copying dvds for home use. I know it is not legal even if there is no intent on selling them, but do people really come arrest you if you do? I have a binder full for my kids, and my kids (even though I tell them to not say anything) Always blurt out in the movie section of stores "did you burn this one already mom?" And of course, I'm sure in school they all blab to the world.

Just wondering if anyone knows of real people who have gotten in trouble for burning for personal use. I'm not a pirater, just a mom who needs to keep my kids entertained cheaply sometimes!

Hi to someoneth, I can really sympathise with this question almost entirely..except that I'm a dad, but if i can assure you that i believe THOSE NICE MOVIE PEOPLE aren't really out there to catch you out. There are bigger fish to fry. My little army or legion of kiddies can go through cd's dvd's and game stuff, at an alarming rate, and to be honest who can afford to keep on re-purchasing their favourites just because of a small scratch etc. So we make our own "ON SITE BACKUPS" just for us, NO HANDING THEM AROUND kinda thing. But to answer your question, I don't know of any one in our position that's been charged, we'd have to be VERY unlucky.

It seems that it may depend what country you live in. The wonderful government here in Canada has seen fit to allow us to make copies of any media that we own. (and download media that others own and allow us to download) Other countries have seen fit to make laws that they feel might better suit its people. I haven't found too many instances where someone has been charged. Alot of people have been listed, noted, fingered, intimidated, and otherwise but, I have a funny feeling that most judges would shy away from sentancing you to a life sentance for burning media that you already own. It would ruin their relaxation time at home later that day watching their backups.

cd&dvd piracy is illegal in most countries.technically if its modified by 20% its not a breach of copyright.I only know of 1 person thats been in trouble for piracy and that was PS1 games not dvds,cds.if you own the original cd/dvd you are legally intiled to make 1 back up copy for personal use.im in australia the laws may be different depending on which country your in but going on forums(possibly monitered by the government) and bragging about copying cds/dvds could get you in trouble.

You can use COPYING SOFTWARE to make a backup copy of personally authored DVDs or non protected movies. Many commercial movies are protected. Not all movies are protected. Unfortunately, current interpretation of laws in some countries, including the US, prohibits distribution of software that has the ability to copy commerical movies.

May people live outside the United States, and the laws in other countries are not the same as those in the U.S.

If you live in the United States, please understand that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) passed in 1998 does not expressly prohibit consumers from making backup copies of digital works - only the sale & distribution of tools that circumvent copy prevention technologies.